Vending machine



Oct. 14, 1930. A. H. DU GRENIER 1,778,187

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l J 4 jflverfifor.

Odt. 14, 1930.

A. H. DU GRENIER VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WXMVW Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. DU GRENIER, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUTOMATIC MERCHANDISING CORPORATION, A

VENDING MACHINE Application filed April 26,

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of vending or dispensing machines which are primarily designed to deliver articles packed in flat, square cornered cartons, and more particularly to that type of machine in which the cartons, ready for delivery, are placed in a stack, and the bottom carton of the stack is delivered when the machine is operated.

On account of the fact that these cartons are usually made of thin card board and are only partly filled, so that their contents does not assist in holding them in shape, considerable difficulty has been encountered in delivering the cartons from machines of the above described type, on account of the fact that they are liable to become distorted in shape. A more serious difliculty, however, is due to the fact that, on account of the size of the carton, or package to be delivered, it has been found'possible in many instances to pilfer the contents ofsuch machines by removing the same thru the delivery passage.

The objects of my invention are to provide a vending machine, for the purpose above referred to, which is adapted to deliver the packages, without damage thereto, or substantial distortion thereof, and to operate in a manner which will insure delivery, so long as there are packages in the machine. Also to produce a machine which is provided with means arranged to preventthe removal of its contents thru the delivery passage without operation of the coin-controlled mechanism with which it is provided.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outer casing of a vending machine embodying my invention.

F ig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thru the middle thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the dispensing mechanism.

Fig. 4; is a detail view of a locking mechanism which is employed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the dispensing mechanism.

1926. Serial No. 104,853.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view thereof, showing the delivery tray in partly advanced position. i

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the tray in its delivering position.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View at line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the casing 10 s constructed to provide a vertically extendmg rear portion adapted to receive a stack of flat, square packages, as X, and a forwardly extending portion opening to a delivery chute 11 in its front end. A tray 19. is mounted in position to be reciprocated horizontally between a position beneath the stack, and a position in front thereof, said tray being constructed to receive a single package, the sides of the tray being of the same height as the sides of the package and the internal dimensions of the sides bein slightly the package, so that the latter may pass readily therein when in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal position. The frame within the casing is provided with horizontal guide way slots 13, into which guide ribs 14, on

the outer sides of the tray, project, permitting the tray to be moved between a filling position, directly beneath the stack, to a discharging position at the front end of the casing. A bottom 15 is provided for said tray, which is adapted to close the entire space enclosed by the sides thereof, and is pivotally connected to said sides by pivots 16 at the rear end thereof, so that it may swing downwardly to permit delivery of the package from the tray. A roller 17 is mounted on bearing pins 18 in the sides of the tray, directly above thc'rear side thereof, the upper portion of the roller being held at the level of the upper edges of the sides of the tray and said roller extending the entire width of the package receiving chamber therein;

A rod 20 is connected to the front end of the tray, and is slidably mounted in the front side of the casing, said rod being bent in loop form, to provide a handle, and being extended rearwardly thru the casing to provide a plunger 21, for a purpose to be explained. A package support 22 is provided,

an-.. A

. with the finger 32 and which consists of a wire bent in bail form and comprising a pair of arms, which are pivotally suspended at 23 in opposite sides of the magazine, and a horizontal intermediate portion, or cross bar which is arranged to swing beneath the rear end of the bottom package in the stack, and is normally held against the rear side of the tray by a spring 24, the arrangement being such that said horizontal ortion will swing approximately at the level of the top edges of the tray, and will be swung forwardly beneath the stack of packages for a short distance, as the tray is drawn forwardly, as hereinafter explained. A pair of springs 25 are connected at one end to each side of the tray and at their opposite ends to the rear portion of the casing, for returning the tray to its initial position after it has been pulled forward to deliver a package. A pawl 26 ispivoted to the casing and is arranged to engage a series of ratchet teeth 27 on one side of the tray, to prevent return of the tray after it has been partly pulled out, but permitting return thereof after the tray has been pulled out to its delivering position.

The casing is provided with a horizontally disposed bottom support 28, which is so arranged that, when the tray is in its normal or retracted position, it will hold the bottom 15 against the lower edges of the sides of the tray so as to close the same, and a partition 29 is extended from the front end of the support 28 to the bottom of the casing, in front of the delivery opening therein, said support and partition extending the entire width of the casing to form the bottom of a: closed passage leading from the magazine to said delivery opening.

A roller 30 is mounted in a pair of cars formed with the rear side of the tray at the middle thereof, said roller being arranged to run on a track formed on the support 28 and to support the tray, so that its guide lugs 14 will not frictionally engage the frame and the weight of the tray will be borne by said roller, so that the movements of the tray will be but slightly retarded by friction.

An ejector is provided, which comprises a finger 32 mounted on a pivot 33 in the frame, said finger being normally supported in an approximately horizontal position by a depending projection 34, which is integrally formed with the finger and extends from the under side thereof in position to engage the pull rod 20. The lower edge of said projection 34 is curved to provide a convex engaging face. An arm 35 is formed integrally extends at right angles thereto in position to be engaged by the front side of the tray, the arrangement being such that, when the tray is drawn forwardly, the finger 32 will ride over the front side of the tray, as shown in Fig. 6, and, then. as the tray is drawn forwardly still further, the front side of the tray will engage the arm 35 and cause the finger 32 to be swung downward into the tray, as shown in Fig. 7.

A cup shaped follower 36, of substantial weight, is provided, which is adapted to rest on the top package of the stack and is fitted to the chamber therefor. As shown in Fig. 4, a pair of arms 37 are mounted on pivots 38, secured in the rear side of the follower, said arms'being extended cross wise, each over the pivot of the other, and one of said arms having a screw 39 fixed therein and extending thru a slot 40 in the other arm, so that, when said arms are swung on their pivots, within certain limits, they will be constantly held at similar angles to the horizontal. Said arms are adapted to swing freely, and the pivot of one serves as a stop to limit the downward swinging movement thereof. The length of said arms is such that, when in their lowest position, their end portions project beyond the sides of the follower into position to engage the sides of the magazine. With this arrangement, therefore, when the follower is placed in the top of the magazine, the ends of the arms 87 will engage the sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 4,

but will in no way impede the downward movement of the follower. Any force, however, tending to cause the follower to move upward, particularly at its rear end, will causethe arms to be immediately frictionally engaged with the sides of the magazine and thus prevent any appreciable upwardv movement thereof. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained. The follower also has a bar or handle 41, which is secured to the rear side thereof and projects beyond its front side to form a finger 42, which latter acts to engage the coin controlled apparatus, with which the machine is associated, when the magazine is empty, to cause the return of the coin to the purchaser.

WVhen the follower is to be removed to per mit refilling of the magazine, the arms 37 are swung upwardly against the handle 41, permitting ready removal by lifting on the latter.

Suitable locking means not shown are provided for preventing forward movement of the tray, except when released by the coin controlled mechanism.

In practice the magazine will be filledto a suitableextent, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the follower 36 placed in position thereon. As in the retracted position of the tray, it will be in register with the magazine, the bottom package in the stack will be contained in the tray and supported on its bottom and the top surface of this package will be flush with the top edges of the sides of the tray. When the tray is drawn forward,'this package will be carried from beneath the stack the tray is advanced, and, as soon as the tray has been advanced a short distance. the roller 17 will be carried beneath the bottom pack the package which age of the stack so that, during the first part of the delivery movement, the stack of packages will be supported by the roll 17 and by is being discharged, as

shown in Fig. 6. Also, as the tray is moved forward, the support 22, which is normallyheld against its rear side will swing forward until its horizontal portion is carried 7 I beneath the bottom package of the stack, its

motion being arrested in the position of Fig. 6. lVhen the tray has been moved forward to the position of Fig. 7, in which the hinge 16 of the bottom 15 is at the front end of the horizontal support 28, the bottom will swing downward against the inclined bottom 29, by its own gravity and the gravity of the package, permitting the latter to slide down the inclined surface, thus provided, into the chute 11, Where it may be readily re moved. As the tray is moved into the delivery position of Fig. 7, the front side of the tray will engage the. arm 35 and cause the finger 32 to be swung downward, so that, in case a package should become flattened, so that it engaged the sides of the tray so close- .ly that it would not fall by its gravity from the tray when it permitted to do so by the downward swinging of the bottom, then the finger 32 will be press-ed downward against the package at its front end, and will positively force it downward from the tray, so that delivery thereof will be insured.

As shown in Fig. 7, when the tray is in its extreme forward position and a package has just been delivered, a small portion of the next package will be exposed, so that, if it should be attempted to remove this package while the tray is held in the advanced position, the space provided therefor will he so small that it would be impossible to do this ordinarily without crushing the package. If, however, only one or two packages remained in the stack, it would be possible to remove the bottom package by tilting its rear end upward, so that the package could be drawn down thru the opening in t-ion. Such tilting. will however be prevented by the follower 36, which is positively locked against such tilting movement by the arms 37 and therefore firmly holds the package down on the wire support 22, and roll 17, so that it will not be possible to remove the package without at least seriously mutilating it. Also, when the tray is permitted to return to its initial position, the roll 17 willsustain the stack during this movement while the bottom package in the stack will be prevented by the follower from tilting downward atits front end on the roll as a pivot, so that the package will be held in a horizontal position. until the roll 17 has been nearly moved from. beneath the package. As the return motion will usually be rapid, ordinarily the package will fall into the tray while held in a horizontal position, but, if the front end of an incl' ied directhe bottom package should swing down slightly, it will nevertheless be forced into a flat position in the tray by gravity.

lVhile the package will usually slide down the bottom 15 when in its inclined position, and be delivered to the chute 11, so that it will slide down the same and be held by the lip which is provided at'thc end of the chute, if the package is relatively light it sometimes only slides part way down the chute, so that, when the tray moves back and its bottom is swung up, the bottom will engage the package and tip it up on its front end. \Vhen this occurs the plunger 21 will immediately thereafter engage the top of the package and tilt it back, so that it will slide down the chute to its lip.

The means 22, for supporting the bottom package of the stack at its rear end, so that it cannot swing down below the level of the roll 17, is an important feature of the invention, as. otherwise. the bottom package would be liable to swing down to such an extent that the roll 17 would crush the package on the return movement. Moreover. the use of the locking means on the follower makes it necess ry to avoid lifting the packages to any extent after they have once moved down.

I claim:

1. A machine for successively delivering fiat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at its upper end to permit the package to fall vertically therein. said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, a main package support mounted on the rear end of the tray and movable therewith in position to engage the under side of the bottom package of the stack, to support the same as the tray is moved forwardly to deliver the package therein. and a supplemental package support arranged to be automatically moved beneath the rear end portion of such bottom package during the first part of said forward movement of the tray, to support said end portion until said main support is moved adjacent thereto as the tray is returned to receiving position.

2. A machine for F llCCt."- l\Gl delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally. a horizontally disposed ray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at its upper end to permit the package to fall vertically there-in. said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front lilo Cir

of such packages, comprising a. casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted tO'CODtEllIl a package and open at its upper end to permit I the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, a package supporting means mounted on the rear end of said tray and having a package engaging face disposed at the. level of the top edges of the tray and extending for the width of said chamber and means for supporting the rear end of the bottom package of the stack While the tray is in its delivering position.

4. A machine for successively delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprisinga casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at its upper end to permit the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, package supporting means mounted on the rear end of the tray and having a package engaging face at the level of the top edges thereof and a supplemental package support arranged to be automatically moved beneath the stack, as the tray is moved forward to support the bottom package therein at its rear end while its frontportion is supported on said face.

5. A machine for successively delivering.

flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having achamber adapted to contain a package and open at its upper end to permit the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, a roll journaled on the tray at the rear end of said chamber in positionto roll in contact with the under surface of the bottom package of the stack and to sustain the same as the tray is moved forstack, to support the spring actuated therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, amain package support mounted on the rear end of the tray and movable therewith in position to engage the under side of the bottom package of the stack, to support the same as the tray is moved for *ardly to deliver the package therein, and a supplemental package support normally actuated'to move from a position in the rear of the stack to a position to engage the under side of the rear port'on of said bottom package as the tray is moved forwardly from its receiving position.

7. A machine for successively dehverlng flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to con tain a package andopen at its upper end to permit the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between apackage receiving position beneath the magazine and a deliveringposition in front thereof, a main package support mounted on the rear end of the tray and m'ovable'therewith in position to engage the under side of the bottom package of the same as the tray is moved forwardly to deliver the package therein, a cross bar extending for the width of the magazine and pivotally suspended and to swing rom a position in the rear thereof to a position beneath its lowerend, to support the rearend portion 'of said bottom package while the tray is being moved to its delivering position and being returned therefrom.

8. A machine for successively delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, con'iprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at top and bottom to permitthe packages to pass vertically therein and to be discharged therefrom, means permitting reciprocal movement of the tray between a receiving position beneath the stack Ill and a delivering; positionin, front thereof, a bottom pivoted to the rear-end of the, tray and'adapted, when. held horizontally, .to close the lowerv end of said chamber, meanspermitting saidbottom toswing downwardly when the tray ismoved to deliveringposition, and

an ejeetorwlevice arrangedito-be automatically moved downwardly into said chamber as the tray is moved into 'delive'ring. osition to force thepackagezfrom tliej 'cham er. 4 U 9(A machine for successively deliverin fiat sided packages from thebott'omof a stac of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a liorizontally'disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at top andbottom to permit the packages to passvertically therein and to be discharged therefrom, means permitting reciprocalmovement of the tray between a receiving position beneath the stack and a delivering position in front thereof, a bottom pivoted to the rear end of the tray and adapted, when held horizontally, to close the lower end of said chamber, means .permittingsaid,

tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at top and bottom to permit the packages to pass vertically therein and to be discharged therefrom, means permitting reciprocal movement of the tray between a receiving position beneath the stack and a delivering position in front thereof, a bottom pivoted to the rear end of the tray and adapted, when held horizontally, to close the lower end of said chamber, means permitting said bottom toswi'ng downwardly when the tray is moved to delivering position, a

finger mounted on the casing and means ar-.

ranged to be actuated by the tray, as it is moved into discharging position, to move said finger downwardly into the front end of said chamber to eject the package therefrom.

11. A machine for successively delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing 'ha'vmg a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally. a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at top and bottom to permit the packages to pass vertically therein and to be discharged therefrom means permitting reciprocal movement of the tray between a receiving position beneath the stack and a deliverin position in front thereof, a bottom pivote to the rear end of the tray and adapted, when held horizontally, to close the lower end of said chamber, means permitting said bottom to swin downwardy when the tray is moved to de ivering position, a finger pivotally mounted on the easing in position to be swung downwardly into the front end of said chamber in the delivering position of the tray, and an arm connected tosaidfinger and arranged to be engaged byvlsaid tray as it is moved into delivering pos1tion,to move said finger to eject a packagefrom the chamber.

12. A machine for successively deliverin flat sided packages from the bottom of a stac of such packages, comprisin a casing havin a magazme in which the pac ages are stacke horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a ackage and open at top and bottom to permit the packages to ass vertically therein and to be discharged therefrom, a follower adapted to rest on the top package of the stack and to move downwardly therewith, and a pair of crossed arms pivoted to the follower at their lower ends and having their opposite ends arrangedfor frictionalengagement with the sides of the magazine to lock the follower against upward movement in all positions thereof.

13. A machine for successively delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack ofsuch packages, comprisin a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally,v a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a ackage and open at its upper end to permit the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a package receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, package supporting means mounted on the rear end of said trav and having a face disposed at the level of the top edges of the tra in position to engage the under side of the bottom package in the stack and support the same as the tray is moved forward to deliver the package therein, means for supporting the rear end of said bottom package while the tray is in an'advanced position, a follower ada ted to rest on the top ackage of the stac and to move downward in said magazine, and means for automatically locking said follower against upward movement at its rear end. a .i

a 14'. .A machine for successively deliverin flat sided packages from the bottom of a stac of such packages, comprising a casing havin a magazine in which the pee ages are stacke horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having achambe'r adapted to contain a package and open at'its upper end to permit the packages to fall vertically therein, said tray being horizontally movable between a packy no age receiving position beneath the magazine and a delivering position in front thereof, package supporting means mounted on the rear end of said tray and having a face disposed at the level of the top edges of the tray in position to engage the under side of the bottom package in the stack and support the same as the tray is moved forward to deliver the package therein, means for supporting the rear end of said bottom package while the tray is in an advanced position, a follower adapted to rest on the top package of the stack and to move downward in said magazine, and a locking device on said follower arranged for frictional engagement with a fixed part of the casing to lock the follower against upward movement in all positions thereof.

15. A machine for successively delivering flat sided packages from the bottom of a stack of such packages, comprising a casing having a magazine in which the packages are stacked horizontally, a horizontally disposed tray having a chamber adapted to contain a package and open at top and bottom to permit the packages to pass vertically therein and to be discharged therefrom, means permitting reciprocal movement of the tray between a receiving position beneath the stack and a delivering position in front thereof, a bottom pivoted to the rear end of the tray and adapted, when held horizontally, to close the lower end of said chamber, means permitting said bottom to swing downwardly when the tray 7 is moved to delivering position, and means connected to the tray, arranged to engage the top portion of the package after it has been delivered, to tilt it rearwardly as the tray is moved rearward from its delivering position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my" name to this specification.

ARTHUR H. DU GRENIER. 

